Lookin' for Love: A Novel

Susen Edwards’ Lookin' for Love delivers a deeply moving tale that spans decades. It chronicles the tumultuous life of Ava Novak, a character shaped by a painful childhood, multiple tumultuous relationships, and the search for self-worth and stability amidst chaos. The novel's depth lies in its rich character development, intricate conflicts, plot twists, and a setting that evolves alongside Ava's journey. It is 1963, and nineteen-year-old Ava is trapped in a cycle of violence and despair after marrying an alcoholic and being cast aside by her abusive mother. The weight of her circumstances forces her to bear two sons and ultimately turn to go-go dancing, desperately numbing her pain with alcohol and drugs. Ava's life takes a dramatic turn when she meets Mike, a charming drug dealer with promises of a glamorous future. Together, they plunge into the dangerous world of The Crew, a major drug smuggling organization, which leads them to the vibrant landscapes of Kenya in search of marijuana farmers. But their dreams shatter as a raid lands Ava behind bars. After the harsh reality of a Kenyan prison, can she find healing, love, and redemption? The denouement will take readers by surprise.

 This narrative is illuminating, and Susen Edwards’ writing is exquisite, with a first-person narrative voice that is grounded and that brilliantly offers a finely drawn image of Ava’s psyche. Ava is a complex protagonist, carrying the burdens of her mother’s conditional love and a series of toxic relationships. Her early life, marked by a deceptive mother and an absent father, leaves her vulnerable and seeking validation. Tom, her first husband, is the archetypal abuser—charming yet destructive—while Jack provides a seemingly warm but complacent relationship that ultimately stifles her growth. Conversely, Mike represents the dangerous allure of rebellion and excitement, driving Ava into deeper moral ambiguity as she struggles with addiction and identity.  

The primary conflict revolves around Ava's internal struggle between her desire for independence and her continued dependency on men for validation and support. It is further complicated by relationships that oscillate between love and abuse. Every choice Ava makes is mirrored by her history of manipulation and trauma, often leading her back to unhealthy cycles. The external conflicts with Tom, her former husband, intensify as he infantilizes her, asserting that she is unfit to parent their children and later sabotaging her attempts to regain a connection with them. Edwards masterfully crafts settings that reflect Ava's internal turmoil. From the suffocating domesticity of her first marriage to the contrasting freedom and danger of her life with Mike, the various locales—from New Jersey to Florida and Colombia—echo her journey of escape and entrapment. Each geographical shift aligns with crucial turning points, emphasizing Ava's relentless search for love, belonging, and self-acceptance. Lookin' for Love is a captivating tale with a message as resonant as the heroine is genuinely flawed.